My SRS light came on at 64k, 4k out of warranty
I work for a massive auto repair chain in store support, so I busted out the new Snap-On Modis that we have and started working on my seat.
Nothing would clear the code, it would come back instantly. I found this TSB on mitchell and called the dealer.
http://matrixowners.com/tsb/T-EL009-05.pdf (I'm linking there because I don't feel like making a PDF from mitchell)
First they were extremely rude and demanded I bring the vehicle in and spend $195 for diagnosis (Which myself and several other corporate head mechanics already did) So I called another dealer. They were only moderately rude, "Consumers Can't do their own diagnostics" after I explained how "Consumers" don't have $12,000 scan tools and hundreds of ASE Master Techs, their atitude changed.
So he didn't acknowledge this TSB existed, even after "Looking it up", he talk with the head mechanic of the dealer and said that it just needs calibration and all will be well. So I took an hour had them recalibrate it, spent the $60 and left.
2 days later after my "Large friend" rode with me again, the light came on again. I had surgery, let it sit for a couple weeks and that brings us to today. I went in there guns blazing, TSBs flying and they did their normal 2 hour diagnostic. They came out and told me what already knew, that a "Larger sized person" sat in the seat and "damaged the seat frame", that will be $4300+
After I woke up I told them, that's fine call Toyota, it's their problem. If a 300lb person can't sit in the seat then there needs to be some sort of disclaimer/warning and I would have had him sit in the back seat.
I was told it was "My problem" and I must call Toyota. So I told him I already did and that's why I was there, they told me I had to talk to the dealer. Then the customer service lady who dragged me in and woudn't commit to anything on the phone was convinently "Heading to a meeting" and wouldn't be able to talk to me. I didn't take no for an answer and demanded to speak with her. 30 minutes later, the sevice advisor came out and said toyota was going to pick up the tab on the $4300+ bill.
Now I know I said I went in there guns blazing, but I went in knowing this was not right and there's no way that someone that ways 300lbs (hell I weighed 300lbs a year ago) could damage a seat that badly. I was calm the whole time and simply stated the facts. I knew if I had gotten beligerant that I'd get no where.
This is not a common problem by any means from what I could tell. I couldn't even find a post about this issue, but I hope someone can benefit from this.
This was my first Toyota and the first car that I purchased where I didn't have buyers remorse after I signed the papers. I knew it was a Toyota and that made me felt good. But today I was expecting the worse and I am so happy that they stood behind their product and will be a Toyota customer without a doubt for a long time now.
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